Other Tow Ratings Drop as Much as 400 Pounds

GM is the first of the domestic automakers to announce official tow ratings for its light-duty 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC 1500 based on the SAE J2807 Recommended Practices. The move follows Ford's announcement that it will adopt the SAE towing standard for the 2015 F-150, which has yet to receive an official tow rating. For 2015, the light-duty pickups maintain their max tow ratings of up to 12,000 pounds under the SAE J2807 standard.

UPDATE: While GM's light-duty pickups' max tow rating is unchanged, several configurations did see their tow capacity go down. Many of the popular configurations lost 300-400 pounds when the SAE J2807 standard was taken into consideration.

First established in 2009, the J2807 Recommended Practices tests a pickup’s structure, propulsion, handling, braking, and thermal handling ability in a set environment with and without a load. While Ford, GM, Ram, and Toyota all agreed to be using the standard by 2013, only Toyota had implemented the testing procedure at that time. Initially, GM said it wouldn’t move to the standard until after Ford had with the new aluminum-intensive 2015 F-150, and Ram with its 1500 pickup.

“We engineered the new Silverado and Sierra 1500s to be our most capable light-duty pickups ever,” said Jeff Luke, executive chief engineer, in a release. “For 2015, we will build on that strong foundation to implement SAE J2807 while maintaining robust towing capability across the lineup.”Nissan is also expected to move to the new standard with the new Cummins-powered 2015 Nissan Titan -- that 5.0-liter turbodiesel V-8 is expected to have “more than 300 hp” and “around 550 lb-ft of torque.” Check out the chart below to see the changes to some of the 2015 Chevrolet SIlverado and 2015 GMC Sierra pickups' most popular configurations.

Well i guess this isnt the dramatic loss like some people have been touting for years. A few hundred pound towing rating loss is no big deal. I assume the past trucks were a few hundred pounds over rated as well. No big deal once again.

Actually ratings do drop. The only one that stays put is the 6.2 with maximum tow package. The 5.3, 4.3, and 6.2 without the Max package all drop by a couple hundred pounds. A 5.7L V8 CrewMax tundra is actually rated to tow more than a 6.2L V8 Crew Cab silverado 9,300 vs 9,500. It's with GM's Max tow package is where they bring the thunder lol. All of these trucks are very capable. The tundra has conquered the gauntlet with the best of them. These things should be work trucks but they're becoming show cars more and more. If I was towing everyday and needed a half tun I'd get a diesel, something neither Toyota, GM, or Ford has so I guess it's Ram or the up comig Titan for me.

@Madison(X) I think that is why the Article says max towing unchanged. Then smaller print others drop as much as 400 pounds. I love these new standards. A standard for all companies is a good idea and more useful to the consumers. I can't wait for the others now. And ya I want a Baby DMAX and Powerstroke

@senderblue - At least I don't recall Ford Silencing People the way GM did. Even to the Point of sending him to a dead office where that person achieved nothing with the rest of his life...Its all out now but to what cost of lives. How many upper management left knowing this was coming out??? Well never know!!!

I can respect that. I also apologize for resorting to name calling. Bad day at work, shouldn't have even said anything.

Silver Raven,

I agree with what you're saying to a point. It would be interesting to know how many previous CEOs and high ranking employees knew about these issues before they jumped ship. The good, they are gone and it would appear that GM might be on the right track.

GreenGrape29,

I also agree with you that corruption runs rampant in many of our corporations, and definitely in our government. Hopefully this will be a catalyst for change.

Apology and explanation ( bad day ) are not necessary. I find it takes a big person to say that though :) As far ads not saying it - you have every right to say whatever you feel ( forum rules permitting )...

@Silver Raven Do you know for certain Ford has not silenced anyone. Silencing whistle blowers is part of american corporate culture, it happens all the time in large companies all over the world.

I'm only saying this because if you've seen the latest investigating now going on a Chrysler, you know everyone is going to get their day because the NHTSA is now on a witch hunt....and I know you wouldn't want to have to eat crow when it's your precious Ford's turn *sarcasm*

@GreenGrape29 - Everyone has skeleton's in their closets, even Ford. In todays time and labour laws...I feel confident that someone would blow the whistle on Ford in a Minute...not have to work another day in their lives!!! I'm well aware and don't hate GM. I love the new Canyon and Vets...just can't own one due to continuous brainwashing as a child....;)

Good to hear :) I may be an a$$ - many around here can attest to that ;) - but I don't lack compassion and am not an understanding person. Sarcastic, most definitely that though. BTW. Hater, fanboy, shill etc I don't consider name calling. Throw in ignorant moron idiot blue oval freako in there and well... ;)

I wouldn't call you ignorant, a moron, and definitely not an idiot - blue oval freak, yes ;). No matter whether Ford, GM, Dodge, or heaven forbid Toyota we all have at least one thing in common; we love our cars. Gotta respect each other for that. I usually don't mind being called names but I was raised better than to resort to it myself, still a little embarrassed for stooping so low.

Having watched some of the frame comparisons with Ford Chevy and Toyota, you could pay me enough to tow with a Tundra. Even riding in them across farm fields is unsettling. You can feel the frame flex like its made out of tin.

I wonder how Ford and Ram pulling is effected. though more so Ford them Ram due to the supposed "700 pound weight loss" less weight will probably be a problem for FOrd. they're used to designing heavy beasts for pulling. not light weight machines.

For example, a 2014 Silverado Crew Cab with the 5.3-liter V8, 5.7-foot box and 3.73 rear axle was rated at 11,200 pounds in 2014, but has since been reduced to 10,800 in 2015. Same goes for the Sierra.

@FordCosworth@Ryan_CYou are right, the 2015 2500HD has a payload of 3,760 and the 2014
2500HD is rated at 4,212 for a difference of 452 less for 2015. The towing is
actually 100 lbs. better in the 2015 2500HD (17,800 vs 17,900) over the MY14.

@Black Dynamite Online Um, no, since their ratings didn't change between the 2 ratings on the current trucks, i doubt they would have earlier either. it just made no sense to spend the cash to have them retested when a new model was coming. Business sense ya know........

@Black Dynamite Online You are OFF on this one. I will commend Toyota for being first to man up and go to the standard......

But....the others sell a LOT more trucks and didnt want to jump in first and have their ratings LOOK lower than their real competition (big three, Toyota distant fourth) if their competitors werent going to it as well.

Now that Ford committed so has GM and I am sure Ram will as well.

ALL of these will out tow the Toyota regardless......Tundra is not a bad truck , its just not as good as the Big Three are.....

@Black Dynamite Online Hardly, your excuse of "their numbers will drop" isn't working out, so now you are starting another rant. This outstretches the Tundra's maximum 10,400 rating by a decent margin and the fact it didn't change and chances are GM used the same tests to rate the new truck as the old initially, your rant holds no water...... I am sure the Tundras well-known weaker frame is what holds it back, and that isn't changing anytime soon.

@Black Dynamite Online Lol i thought you were always Right BD? Remember the new drive trains in the new Camry? You were wrong then and you were just WAY in left field on this one. Toyota refuses to get serious about the tundra and therefore its sales will always stay low.

@Black Dynamite Online Sorry man, nice try, I have no doubt they originally rated the 14s the way they rated the 07s so the new rating scale made ZERO difference as i am sure it will not for Ram and Ford either. They have good frames capable of handling the load without twisting their beds off ya know......